Building an inspiration base
This is a cross post from the Blue Flavor blog, please comment over there.
It’s true, the color palette for a recent design came from a ping pong paddle. I had been in the conference room talking to the client and playing with a ping paddle (our conference table is a ping pong table) when it hit me. The colors on the handle were quite nice. It was good combination of three distinct colors, combinations I don’t think I could have thought of myself. Bingo, I had my color palette.
Not all inspiration comes so quick and easy. As creative professionals though we always have to be inspired or seem like it. While I fully believe that one can never be creative all the time there are a few things you can do to stay inspired and keep the fires burning. Think of it as base building for your creativity.
Be a consumer
No, I’m not talking about buying everything in sight. Visually consume everything around you. Take it in and savor it. Let it roll around on your tongue, so to speak. That tree out the window, the plate of sushi you had last night, the pattern on the carpet, the shape of a bike frame or the hand written sign in the farmers market; all are great sources of visual delight. By constantly looking and visually consuming your environment you can find something inspiring.
Keep a photo scrap book
In iPhoto I have a album for photos o random things. At the time I wasn’t sure why but these are things that just made me stop for a little while longer than usual. Rather than rather than try to remember these moments I take a picture. Often times I’ll go back and look through these photos to rekindle the moment, try to find what made me take it. Sometime it’s a great color palette or texture. Other times it might be the arrangements of elements that arrested me. In the end these different parts filter their way into my design.
Read a cook book
Book stores are full of inspiration–especially cook books. I can spend hours thumbing through these books, if for no other reason than just to look. Okay sometimes I’m looking for recipes. The modern cook books is so well designed that I sometimes wish I could crawl inside the head of the designers. From color to typography to hierarchy they are so well done. Everything it thought out and done in such a fun way for what can be a pretty boring and routine. There’s a lot that can be absorbed.
Change your perspective
Sometimes all it takes is moving to a different spot to to get inspired. Ever lie down on the floor to think through an idea? How about standing on your head while you think through a problem? My friend Elan likes to do that. By changing your view on things get you out of a routine and thinking in a different manner. This could be be what you need to get the motor running. It’s also one of the easiest things to do. So go to a different room next time or a different coffee shop and see what happens.
Practice
Not everything needs to be done for a clients, in fact it shouldn’t. Taking time to do things for yourself allows you to tap into your creative side without the burden of client deadlines and objectives. You can do this in a number of ways. My preferred method is a sketch book. I fully admit that I’m not a great drawer but letting my self goof off and doodle keeps me going. Whatever your method is keep at it. Practicing makes it easier to tap into inspiration when you need it the most.
These are just some of the ways I use to keep me inspired and build my base. There are definitely many more out there but this is what works for me.
In the end, staying inspired is the toughest part of being a creative professional. We are always asked to be “on” and sometimes you just don’t feel it. However building an inspiration base will help keep you primed. It will give you a stronger creative foundation to pull from when you need it the most.
Filed by Kevin at November 20th, 2007 under Blue Flavor, Design